Integrated Energy System Simulation

Integrated energy system simulation is an approach in which researchers approach a
multi-system energy challenge holistically rather than looking at each of the systems
in isolation.

For example, if the goal is to provide heat and electricity to a group of buildings
while reducing natural gas use, integrated energy system simulation is an effective
approach to find ways to achieve this goal.

These capabilities allow us to perform hydro, thermal, and gas infrastructure investment
and resource use coordination for time horizons ranging from sub-hourly (markets and
operations) to multi-year (planning).

Projects

NREL researchers have debuted a powerful grid modernization software named the Hierarchical Engine for Large-Scale Infrastructure Co-Simulation (HELICS). It's a high-performance framework for linking multiple off-the-shelf simulation
tools to act as a single unified model, exchanging data at each time step. HELICS
is open-source, cross-platform, and scalable from laptop to high-performance computing
environments. Its support for combining cyber (i.e., communications, control, etc.)
and physical domains of energy systems provides a modular platform for never-before-possible
simulations such as bringing together multi-energy systems simulations from buildings,
grid, transportation, and water or testing the performance and scalability of novel
autonomous energy system controllers, algorithms, and architectures. Other use cases
include large-scale integrated transmission-distribution simulation and cybersecurity
and resilience evaluation. HELICS has been developed as part of a Grid Modernization
Laboratory Consortium initiative, and in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory.

NREL is helping Aruba meet its ambitious goal to move to 100% renewable energy. Working
closely with the local utility, NREL has used it capability of co-optimizing across
multiple energy systems (in this case, electricity, cooling, transportation, and biomass)
to identify the least-cost ways to meet the island’s sustainability goals. We’re helping
modernize Aruba’s generation system by increasing not only its sustainability but
also its reliability.

NREL is working with SoCalGas to explore the feasibility of storing energy that might
otherwise be curtailed as chemical energy in the form of carbon-neutral methane. By
converting the electricity to methane, energy can be stored for weeks or even months—the
system leverages the existing natural gas infrastructure—and used when needed. For
example, mid-day in early to late spring, sunshine is abundant, but electric loads
are low. This is an ideal time to convert and store energy generated from photovoltaic
systems as carbon-neutral methane for use in generating electricity later in the year.
Our integrated energy simulation capabilities allow us to optimize the storage and
use of energy.